Penn State ComMedia Sports Storieshttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports
Sports stories created by students in the College of Communications.enwag5000@psu.eduCopyright 20182018-03-19T13:58:39+00:00Penn State Splits Home-Opening Doubleheaderhttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/penn-state-splits-home-opening-doubleheader
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/penn-state-splits-home-opening-doubleheader
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Penn State (2-18) did not let a close 6-5 Game 1 loss affect their performance in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Beard Field. The Nittany Lions picked up a split with Kent State (12-8), earning a 6-5 win in Game 2.

Saturday’s games were the official home openers for Penn State, and head coach Amanda Lehotak was excited for her team to return home after 18 straight road games to open the season.

“You have no idea what it’s like to be gone for so many games and come back home; so we thank all the fans,” Lehotak said. “Sometimes you just can’t get the big hit, like Game 1, we got the big hit Game 2 and I love our attitude, we don’t quit.”

Penn State found themselves in a hole early on in Game 1, after a leadoff triple and two doubles powered Kent State to 5-0 first inning lead.

Paige Johnson’s three-run homer to right-center restored momentum for the Nittany Lions, who cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the first. The round-tripper was Johnson’s second of the season.

Penn State continued its’ offensive momentum into the bottom of the second, loading the bases with one out. However, those runners ended up stranded after a strikeout and groundout to third ended the inning.

Even when Kent State extended its’ lead to 6-3 in the top of the third, the Nittany Lions fought back. Tori Dubois singled up the middle, bringing two runs across the plate to pull Penn State within one, 6-5.

Kent State pitcher Madi Huck retired the Penn State side in the bottom of the seventh, clinching a Game 1 victory for the Golden Flashes.

The Nittany Lions settled in after the result of Game 1, powering ahead to Game 2 in hopes of finding a way to win in front of the energetic Beard Field crowd. Penn State avoided repeating the start of Game 1 behind solid pitching from Madison Shaffer, playing the Golden Flashes to three scoreless innings.

Shaffer couldn’t hold for much longer, though, as Bailey Brownfield smacked a triple off the center field wall and brought two runs in. Kent State took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth.

Again, it was a home run which brought Penn State back into the game, as Delaney Elling’s two-run shot sailed high over the left-field wall. The play tied the game at 2-2, making Elling’s first home run of the season worthwhile.

“I feel like I needed that, and offensively we needed that,” Elling said. “It was great to have it happen here at Beard Field.”

Penn State capitalized on the momentum, bringing in three more runs off doubles by Paige Johnson, Destiny Weber and Dani Fey. This gave the Nittany Lions a 5-2 lead through four innings of play.

After Dubois crossed the plate on a wild pitch to extend Penn State’s lead to 6-2, Kent State made things interesting by scoring two runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lehotak called on the senior pitcher and Game 1 starter Jess Cummings to relieve Shaffer. She delivered, striking out Brenna Brownfield to strand three Golden Flashes.

While Kent State pulled within one on a past ball in the top of the seventh, Cummings held her own as a reliever, striking out Kaitlyn Miller, stranding the tying run on first to secure the 6-5 win.

Penn State returns to action Sunday at Beard Field, playing Kent State for the third time this weekend. The Nittany Lions improved to 2-18 overall with Saturday’s win.

]]>2018-03-18T22:17:24+00:00Nittany Lions Drop Series Finale to NJIThttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/nittany-lions-drop-series-finale-to-njit
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/nittany-lions-drop-series-finale-to-njit
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A seven-run seventh inning from NJIT spoiled Penn State’s chances at a series sweep as the Highlanders (8-7) outlasted the Nittany Lions (6-9), 8-6, on Sunday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Penn State, who swept both games of a doubleheader yesterday, looked well on its way to a sweep as Dante Biasi was cruising through six innings on the mound, surrendering only one hit and one walk while striking out seven.

“I felt good,” Biasi said. “We worked on my secondary stuff all week, so I was just able to throw those for strikes and that kind of made it easier on myself. We just got after it and competed out there.”

Biasi, who came into the game with a 10.58 ERA, threw 86 pitches in his six innings, easily the longest outing of his season. Recently getting over an arm injury, Biasi had his most confident outing in some time.

“My arm feels great, there’s nothing really wrong there,” Biasi said. “It’s just about getting experience. It’s my first time facing college hitters so I’m pretty happy with where I’m at right now. But there’s still a lot to work on and get better by the end of the season.”

On the other side, NJIT starter Tyler Stafflinger was going toe-to-toe with Biasi, pitching four perfect innings before giving up one hit and two runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings.

However, the game shifted in the seventh inning, as both teams pulled their starters and struggled to string outs together.

Marko Boricich came on in relief of Biasi to start the top of the seventh and allowed four straight batters to reach including a hit-by-pitch to push in a run. Jake Pilewicz came in after but faced only one two batters before being taken out in the middle of an at-bat. Mason Mellott came in to replace him but recorded only one out while giving up five hits.

Conor Larkin finally closed the door on the top half of the inning, but not before the Highlanders had scored seven runs to take a 7-2 lead.

Penn State didn’t go quietly, as the Nittany Lions put their first three batters on in the bottom of the seventh off NJIT reliever Johnny Malatesta.

Then, after a strikeout, Ryan Sloniger delivered a grand slam to pull the Nittany Lions within one and still only one out in the inning.

“I knew they didn’t have a base open, so they were going to come right at me,” Sloniger said. “I was ahead in the count, not really trying to do too much, and I got a fastball over the plate. I got my swing off, and it was a pretty good swing.”

It was Sloniger’s third homer of the season, tying him for the team lead. The four RBIs brought his team-leading total to 17.

Unfortunately for Penn State, NJIT reliever Tommy Derer came in and shut the door on the Nittany Lions, giving up no baserunners in the final 2.1 innings of the game.

Larkin pitched the rest of the game for Penn State, surrendering only one run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning.

Stafflinger picked up the win, while Boricich was tacked with the loss and Derer secured the save.

The Nittany Lions will be back at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday as they will face the Bucknell Bison.

]]>2018-03-18T21:34:19+00:00Penn State Rallies To Beat Kent State in Extrashttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/penn-state-rallies-to-beat-kent-state-in-extras
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/penn-state-rallies-to-beat-kent-state-in-extras
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After splitting a doubleheader on Beard Field’s opening day, the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-18) had a chance to win their first series of the 2018 season in the rubber match Sunday. The Kent State Golden Flashes (12-9) jumped out to an early lead, but late game heroics gave the Nittany Lions the win, 11-10.

“All my teammates have been doing it all day, just punching in runners and it was just another at-bat,” Penn State junior Tori Dubois said. “The energy from the crowd and the energy from one another, it was just a different atmosphere for us.”

Penn State was able to grab the early lead when the team drew four walks and chased Kent State starter Emily Dobbins before she could get out of the first inning. Delaney Elling, Paige Johnson, Kennedy Legg and Toni Polk were all able to reach base, but the Nittany Lions could only score one run in the inning.

Penn State starter Jessica Cummings was able to hold the prolific Golden Flashes offense at bay for the first two innings to only one run. Kent State is hitting .287 on the season as a team and was able to put up an additional two runs in the visitor’s half of the third inning to push their lead to 3-1.

“We knew as soon as we went down that we had the fight to come back,” Dubois said. “We’ve been down a lot this year, so we were used to it and we knew what we had to do to win.”

Penn State was able to match Kent State’s runs in the third inning to tie the game at 3, but it was only a matter of time before three-time defending MAC player of the week Holly Speers made her impact on the game. Speers is hitting .556 on the season, good for third best in the NCAA. In the fourth inning, Speers launched her sixth home run of the season over the right-field wall to give the Golden Flashes another two-run lead.

“I’m really proud of my kids fight today, they never gave up,” Penn State head coach Amanda Lehotak said. “It wasn’t pretty in some areas of the game, but they fought and it was good to see our offense rise to the occasion.”

Penn State got one run back of their own in the fourth off of Johnson’s double, but Kent State went on to put up three unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to enter the seventh inning with an 8-4 advantage.

Speers launched another home run in the sixth, her second of the day and seventh of the season. She finished the game going 3-4 with two home runs and three RBI’s. The Kent State hit leader, however, was leadoff batter Kennadie Goth who went 4-5 with a triple and a run scored.

The seventh inning started in the cleanup spot with Johnson who was able to reach on a single and Legg behind her reaching on a walk, which set the stage for Polk with two runners on base. Polk proceeded to hit her first home run of the season and pull the Nittany Lions within one.

With all the momentum on their side, Penn State sent nine batters to the plate in the seventh inning and capped off with an RBI single from Dani Fey to send the game to extra innings.

“Offensively, [today] was the most relaxed I’ve seen our offense,” Lehotak said.

Penn State’s Madison Shaffer kept the Golden Flashes down in relief of Cummings, who had three strikeouts and only one walk in her five innings of work.

After trading two-run innings in the eighth, Cummings reentered the circle to keep Kent State scoreless in the ninth and give the Nittany Lions a chance at the win in the bottom half of the inning. Fey hit a double to lead off the inning, and in the blink of an eye Dubois was able to bring her in with a double of her own to right field and secure the series win.

“This is the first weekend where I feel like they breathed, and we’re more themselves,” Lehotak said.

Penn State has a mid-week doubleheader up next against Hofstra to continue their ten-game homestand, and Kent State returns home for a doubleheader of their own against Youngstown State.

]]>2018-03-18T21:30:15+00:00Strong starts from Hagenman, Lehman fuels Penn State doubleheader sweep over NJIThttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/strong-starts-from-hagenman-lehman-make-all-the-difference-as-penn-state-sw
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/strong-starts-from-hagenman-lehman-make-all-the-difference-as-penn-state-sw
With the sun struggling to fight through the clouds and a snowy Tussey Mountain visible past the right field bleachers, Penn State’s repeatedly postponed opening day at Medlar Field finally happened Saturday.

A game against Mount St. Mary’s scheduled for earlier this week was postponed until mid-April, then Friday’s series opener against the NJIT Highlanders was pushed back for a Saturday doubleheader.

The Nittany Lions won the first game of the doubleheader 4-3, then capped that off with a 5-3 win in the second.
Penn State started Justin Hagenman for the first matchup, who held NJIT to just one run and allowed only four baserunners through the first five innings.

In the other dugout, NJIT starter Sean Lubreski loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter in the first inning. Mason Nadeau drove in Connor Klemann with a single, but Shea Sbranti bailed out NJIT with a baserunning mistake on the same play and was thrown out at home to end the inning.

Lubreski allowed ten baserunners and four runs in his five total innings pitched.

Hagenman gave up a couple runs in the sixth inning, but got out of the jam before any further damage could be done by striking out Matt Cocciadieferro.

Both teams’ bullpens pitched shutout ball in the first half of the doubleheader. For Penn State, Marko Boricich retired the Highlanders in order in the seventh inning while Mason Mellott allowed only one hit as he closed out the game in the eighth and ninth. Tommy Derer gave up just three baserunners in three innings pitched for NJIT.
The quality of play from the starters again proved decisive in the second game.

Penn State’s Taylor Lehman didn’t have his best stuff on the mound for much of his time on the mound, but he fought though to give the Nittany Lions six quality innings.

In the first couple frames he couldn’t seem to control his breaking ball, then after a clean third inning, Lehman loaded the bases in the fourth in part because of an error he committed. Penn State started warming up right-hander Jake Pilewicz in the bullpen as Lehman looked flustered with the baserunners, but he was able to close out the inning by forcing NJIT’s Paul Franzoni to fly out.

“I wasn’t getting ahead of batters very well but fighting when I had my back against a wall got me through,” Lehman said after the game. “Sometimes you just don’t have your stuff, I just kind of made adjustments.”
Penn State manager Rob Cooper brought out Lehman again in the seventh, but after NJIT got a runner on he turned to RHP/IF Eric Mock, who retired all three batters he faced with just six pitches.

NJIT starter Jared Kacso had a rocky fourth inning and was pulled in favor of Brian Sondergard after allowing a baserunner in the fifth, putting a lot of pressure on the NJIT bullpen.

Sondergard closed out the fifth inning, but allowed a leadoff triple to Braxton Giavedoni in the sixth. Mason Nadeau drove in Giavedoni with a double, then advanced to third on a Sondergard balk before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Conlin Hughes.

Sondergard was pulled for John Saviano, who got in trouble and was replaced by James Sofield before Aquib Ramkishun finished off the game for NJIT.

Mock meanwhile continued to melt NJIT hitters for the remainder of the game, getting ahead of them with his 90 mph fastball and forcing them to chase his off-speed stuff later in the count.

Although Mock did give up a fluky home run to Jesse Uttendorfer that rode the wind into the right field stands, he retired all nine of the other batters that he faced.

Penn State still has plenty of fresh arms for the final game of the NJIT series on Sunday after its starters and relievers ate up innings Saturday.

“Mock was lights out. Mason Mellott did his thing. Marko [Boricich] helped us out,” Cooper said after the game. “We’re in good position heading into tomorrow too. Mellott will come back, Marko can come back, so we’ve still got some guys back there.”

Tyler Olson is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism and political science. To contact him, email tso5043@psu.edu.

]]>2018-03-18T18:31:03+00:00Lady Lions Fall to Radford in NIT Openerhttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/lady-lions-fall-to-radford-in-nit-opener
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/lady-lions-fall-to-radford-in-nit-opener
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the second straight year, the Penn State Lady Lions’ season has come to an end in the Women’s NIT. Penn State fell to Radford, 63-62, in a thrilling game that went to overtime Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The first half was anything but thrilling, as the Lady Lions scored only 28 points. Radford’s defense was an area of importance that Penn State head coach Coquese Washington discussed Tuesday in media availability, and they showed why in the first two quarters.

Penn State had 14 first half turnovers, leading to 14 points for the Highlanders.

Junior guard Teniya Page got off to a sluggish start as well for the Lady Lions, tallying only four points in the first half. Radford’s defense was in her face all night, and that was apparent early.

“She’s a great player,” Radford head coach Mike McGuire said. “The big thing for us is that we wanted to try to contest every pass and try to force her to hit tough twos. Now, she’s done that all year, but we wanted her to make as many contested twos as we could force, and I thought our kids did a pretty good job with that.”

However, Penn State came alive in the second stanza, jumping out to as large as a four-point lead in the third quarter. Alisia Smith was the catalyst for the charge, scoring six early points to help ignite the Lady Lion offense.

“I took a different approach coming out [for the second half],” Smith said. “In the first half, I didn’t play too well but I tried to make up for it in the second half.”

Smith finished with 11 points, one of three Lady Lions in double figures.

With the shot clock turned off in a 57-57 game, Page missed a long jumper that would have given the Lady Lions a last-second victory. Confronted with a similar situation in overtime, this time with Penn State down by one, Page missed a deep three and Radford was able to run out the clock.

Washington said postgame that the team couldn’t quite get their rhythm going on the final possession of overtime.

“In regulation, that was by design,” Washington said. “In overtime, we had a little bit of a miscommunication coming out of the timeout. We didn’t get the shot that we wanted.”

Amari Carter was the leading scorer for the Lady Lions with 16 points, but only six of those came in the second half. Destinee Walker led the way for Radford with 13 points.

Penn State allowed 15 offensive rebounds, an area that the team tried to focus on in the week leading up to the game. They met their match today.

“We weren’t really boxing out too well, we weren’t in position to get the rebound,” Smith said. “We weren’t going up strong enough and finishing with contact at the rim either.”

Radford moves onto the second round, where it will face James Madison in an all-Virginia matchup.

It has been two years since Penn State has played in a post season tournament. Reporter Erik Chambliss has more from Wednesday's game.

]]>2018-03-15T22:29:32+00:00Penn State Downs Temple, Advances in NIThttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/penn-state-downs-temple-advances-in-nit
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/penn-state-downs-temple-advances-in-nit
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Josh Reaves finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Nazeer Bostick added 12 points as the fourth-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions took down the fifth-seeded Temple Owls, 63-57, on Wednesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.

On a night when Penn State’s usual suspects had quiet nights on the offensive end (Big Ten leading scorer Tony Carr finished with two points), unlikely heroes like Bostick, senior forward Julian Moore and, most importantly, Reaves emerged to carry the load on the offensive end.

“Josh played a great game to get a double-double, he really willed us at the end the most,” Penn State head coach Pat Chambers said.

The Nittany Lions got off to a slow start, only managing 21 points in the first half, due in large part to poor shooting as a team and foul trouble for Lamar Stevens. The sophomore played only four minutes in the half.

“It’s been a long time since Lamar’s been in foul trouble, we’ve been very fortunate that he’s been in most of the games,” Chambers said. “I think that threw us off a little bit.”

The second half was a much different story, as Stevens returned to the game with a vengeance. He reached the foul line 11 times in the third quarter, turning that into eight points.

The Nittany Lions were finally able to take the lead with 1:38 to go in the game on a layup from John Harrar, part of a 12-0 Penn State run that all but put the game away. A couple of key threes from Garner and another from Reaves helped Penn State both claw back into the game and pad its lead.

The Nittany Lions overcame an 11-point deficit, their largest comeback of the season. The two seniors, Moore and Shep Garner, both came on strong late to make sure that tonight wouldn’t be their final game wearing the blue and white.

“I didn’t want it to be my last game, I definitely wanted to come out here and win,” Garner said. “It came down to who wanted it more: us or them. We made the plays down the stretch to win the game.”

The onset of the NIT means a few experimental rule changes as well, as four rule changes have been implemented for this tournament.

The 3-point line is moved back to match the FIBA distance, about one foot-eight inches beyond the traditional college line. The shot clock also resets to 20 instead of 30 on an offensive rebound and the lane was widened from 12 feet to 16 feet, all rules based off changes made in the NBA. Perhaps the most notable change is the switch from halves to quarters, as games in the NIT are being played in 10-minute quarters, replicating the current format of the NCAA women’s game.

The rule changes weren’t all positive, as Temple head coach Fran Dunphy thought the deeper three-point line affected his team’s shooting percentage.

“I thought the three-point line made a difference today,” Dunphy said. “We shot 4-for-18 and I thought we would have shot better if we were a little bit closer. But that’s the nature of the game.”

Rules tested in the NIT have been implemented across college basketball in the past, as both the 30-second shot clock and the wider restricted area in the paint originated in the NIT.

The Penn State season extends at least one more game, as the Nittany Lions will take on No. 1 seed Notre Dame on the road in the NIT second round on Saturday at noon. Notre Dame spent time in the top five of the AP poll but fell victim to the injury bug and was part of the NCAA Selection Committee’s “First Four Out” on Selection Sunday.

]]>2018-03-15T16:40:58+00:00Temple Game Gradeshttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/temple-game-grades
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/temple-game-grades
Penn State used a 19-9 fourth quarter to knock off Temple 63-57 after trailing for more than 30 minutes in the game. Here are the game grades for the first round of the NIT.

Backcourt: B-

Tony Carr entered the game as the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 19.9 points per game, but he struggled mightily against the Owls. He went 1-12 from the floor and failed to attempt a free throw during the game. Carr was forcing the issue throughout the night, but he could not score and turned the ball over three times.

Shep Garner only made two 3-pointers on the night, but they monumental in beating Temple. The first one tied the game at 54, while the second one essentially put the game out of reach for the Owls. If he does not make those 3-pointers, Penn State loses at home.

Josh Reaves was the go-to guy for the Nittany Lions as he went for 19 points and 11 rebounds. He went 7-10 from the floor and carried Penn State on the offensive end for most of the game. His 1-5 shooting from the free throw line makes it hard for the grade to be higher than a B.

Frontcourt: B-

John Harrar got the start for the Nittany Lions with Mike Watkins missing another game due to injury. He only played 10 minutes and only went 1-3 from the floor, but his three offensive rebounds show his activity level in the paint.

Lamar Stevens was dominant on the defensive end with a pair of blocks in the final two minutes to seal the win. His offensive game was not as good as he finished with 10 points but only made one field goal. Poor shooting from the floor holds back the frontcourt from getting a better grade.

Bench: A

Throughout the season, Penn State has struggled to get consistent scoring from bench players. Julian Moore and Nazeer Bostick made sure that would not happen as the pair combined to score 22 points on 6-7 shooting from the floor.

Moore used his size at 6’10” to alter shots at the rim and made the most of his time at the charity stripe, going a perfect 6-6 from the line. Bostick made all four of his shots from the floor, which was needed with Carr struggling from the floor.

The play of Moore and Bostick made it possible for Penn State to overcome a strong defensive game plan by Temple and their performance earns a high grade.

Coaching: B+

Head coach Patrick Chambers saw his team struggle on the offensive end throughout the first half as Penn State only scored 24 points. His adjustments in between quarters were good, considering the fact the college game does not normally use quarters.

Chambers has prided himself as a defensive coach and his job of clamping down in the fourth quarter was an example of that. The Nittany Lions did not allow Temple to get comfortable in an important stretch of the game. For a coach that had not coached in an NIT game, Chambers did a good job of preparing his players to pull out a victory.

Joseph Esquivel-Murphy is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email jje5139@psu.edu.

]]>2018-03-15T03:31:32+00:00Around the Big Ten NCAA Tournamenthttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/around-the-big-ten-ncaa-tournament
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/around-the-big-ten-ncaa-tournament
2018 was an interesting year for the Big Ten. The conference finished with four teams in the AP top 25 but was unable to receive a bid from another team.

Teams like Nebraska and Penn State were on the tournament bubble for a couple weeks but ultimately faded into the middle of the NIT field. Ohio State opens up play for the Big Ten on Thursday at 4 p.m. against South Dakota State.

The location of the matchup favors the Jackrabbits with the first round game being played in Boise, Idaho. The fifth-seeded Buckeyes are in the West Region and have been up and down entering the tournament, losing three of their last five games.

The uneven play from Big Ten Player of the Year Keita Bates-Diop, who had shot under 40 percent from the floor in four straight games until the conference quarterfinal against Penn State, has been a reason for poor results down the stretch. The Buckeyes need Bates-Diop to play his best game as the Jackrabbits have Mike Daum, the two-time Summit League Player of the Year.

South Dakota State is a trendy pick this year to pull off the upset, but the road to the Sweet 16 does not get easy after the first round. Gonzaga is the four seed and will most likely get through UNC Greensboro in the earlier game. The frontcourt size of the Zags will be too much for Ohio State as the team has very little in terms of depth in the post.

Michigan was also placed in the West Region but drew a three seed and Montana in its first-round game. The Wolverines have the combination of talent and experience to run through the Grizzlies when they play Thursday at 9:50 p.m.

The second round matchup will be between either Houston or San Diego State. The issue for head coach John Beilein is the stark contrast in team strengths with Houston’s Rob Gray being one of the best guards in the nation, while Malik Pope stars for the Aztecs.

The Wolverines should be able to make back to back Sweet 16 appearances, but Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Moe Wagner will need to play well against either Gray or Pope in the round of 32. A poor showing by either player in the opening two rounds could result in an early exit.

Purdue and Michigan State got the best opening location as they open their tournament campaigns in Detroit. The Boilermakers are the two seed in the East and play on Friday against Cal State Fullerton.

Isaac Hass will simply overmatch the smaller Titan frontcourt, but Carsen Edwards and Dakota Mathias will need to play well against Arkansas if both teams advance. The Razorbacks’ press forces guards to make decisions and the presence of Daniel Gafford inside could pressure Haas into taking uncomfortable shots.

The third-seeded Spartans take on Bucknell at 7:10 p.m., but don’t count out the Bison. Forwards Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland have won the last two Patriot League Player of the Year awards. Nick Ward and Jaren Jackson Jr need to bring it on both ends in order to avoid becoming another tournament victim of Bucknell.

The round of 32 matchup will put pressure on Cassius Winston, but the sophomore point guard has been steady all year and should help the Spartans cruise to the Sweet 16.

Joseph Esquivel-Murphy is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email jje5139@psu.edu.

]]>2018-03-15T03:28:14+00:00Nittany Lions Down Drexel 22-9http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/nittany-lions-down-drexel-22-9
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/nittany-lions-down-drexel-22-9
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The No. 17 Nittany Lions dominated at every facet of lacrosse in the last game before conference play on Wednesday, defeating the Drexel Dragons 22-9 at Panzer Stadium.

The Nittany Lions (5-3) looked to score early and often against the Drexel Dragons (1-6) as they scored 7 goals within the first ten minutes of play. After the Dragons started the scoring with a goal by Caroline Cummings at the 28:17 mark, Penn State responded with a 7-1 run to give them a 7-2 lead at the 20-minute mark.

The Nittany Lions were looking to continue their momentum from Sunday’s 17-7 victory over then no. 24 Albany. That confidence fed into this game and allowed Penn State to be aggressive on the offensive side leading to 26 first-half shots.

Junior, Madison Carter helped her squad win the possession battle winning five draw controls in the first half and was a big reason why Penn State was able to play in the offensive end so frequently.

Penn State thoroughly dominated the Dragons in the first half by sophomore Maria Auth who netted four of her career-high six goals in the first half.

“Our offense as a whole was cooking,” Auth said of her big game, “Whenever I have a good day or anyone has a good day it means our team as a whole is doing well.”

Her team did have a good day, especially in the first half as Carter and junior, Delaney Muldoon both added multiple goals in the first half (three for Carter and two for Muldoon). Penn State further spread the scoring love out as five other Nittany Lions found the back of the net in the first half.

The Nittany Lions scoring attack was on full display in the first half, but their defense also came up big, and caused nine turnovers and only allowed five goals.

“I think our defense is really starting to click,” freshman, Quinn Nicolai said, “Today we got a lot of those hustle plays… and it's awesome having those momentum plays that get us going for the rest of the game.”

The Nittany Lions played well enough in the first half to give themselves a 14-5 lead which proved to be insurmountable.

After scoring four straight goals to end the first half the Nittany Lions four straight another four straight to start the second which the forced the referees to start a running a clock. Drexel tried to claw back in the second half scoring three straight after the run by Penn State but by then it was too late.

Penn State was able to get a lot of substitutions in the game, and by the end of the game, 13 different Nittany Lions had scored at least one goal.

Back-to-back strong performances for the Nittany Lions will surely have their confidence high as they go into conference play.

Penn State’s next game is the conference season opener against Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday at 12 p.m. at High Points Solution Stadium.

]]>2018-03-15T01:09:21+00:00West Regional Previewhttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/west-regional-preview
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/west-regional-preview
The West region may not have the offensive firepower of Villanova in the East, or the defensive stalwarts of the South like Virginia or Cincinnati, or even the generational talents of Marvin Bagley, Devonte’ Graham or Miles Bridges like the Midwest. What it does have is a balanced group of hot and hungry teams looking for a shot at a national title.

Xavier grabs the top seed in the West, thanks to a 28-5 season and Big East regular-season championship. Scoring seniors like Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura have gotten the Musketeers this far, but there are some landmines ahead. The most notable is last year’s champion, the North Carolina Tar Heels. Led by Wooden Award candidate Luke Maye, the Tar Heels put together a fantastic resume which includes victories over top-tier teams like Tennessee and Duke. North Carolina couldn’t quite finish ACC play with a tournament victory, but they’re feeling good nonetheless entering March Madness.

A popular pick to come out of the West Region is Michigan. The Wolverines, led by John Beilein, are as hot as any team, winning their last nine in a row, which included four victories en route to a Big Ten Tournament title. The top four is rounded out by Gonzaga, the sole NCAA tournament representative from the West Coast Conference. The Zags haven’t lost since January and have only lost four times since the season began, three of those losses coming to other tournament teams. Mark Few’s squad has been here before; they were in the title game last year where they lost to North Carolina in a tightly contested battle. His players are battle-tested and ready for another run in March.

As for teams below the four line, Ohio State is a name to look out for. The Buckeyes have only struggled against one team all year (and fortunately for them, that team is in the NIT), grabbing big wins over other Big Ten opponents like Purdue and Michigan. Chris Holtmann has done a fantastic job in his first year as head coach, and a deep tournament run would be a cherry on top. Houston is worth mentioning too. The Cougars have won ten of their last twelve, including victories over the other American Conference tournament teams, Cincinnati and Wichita State. Houston could bust a couple brackets if they keep up the pace.

Which Cinderellas are contenders for the crown? Two come to mind: Providence and San Diego State. Providence has been spotty at times, but when they’re on, they’re really on, as the Friars have defeated top seed Xavier twice this season already. Then there’s San Diego State, a Mountain West bid thief that has won their last nine on the way to a conference tournament victory. They’ll play Houston in the first round, likely to be one of the more overlooked matchups.

So, who in the West region is most likely to reach the Final Four? Right now, it looks like the fan favorite: Michigan. The Wolverines have looked unstoppable as of late, earning victories over Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State in the past month. If Beilein’s squad keeps rolling the way it does, there’s an excellent chance that Michigan will return to the Final Four for the first time since 2013.

It should, as Kansas has been placed at the top of its respected bracket for the third straight year and the 14th time under head coach Bill Self. The other top seeds in the region are No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Michigan State and No. 4 Auburn. This is a bracket full of blue-bloods, as Syracuse snuck in as well as an 11-seed, facing a potential matchup with TCU if the Orange can get past Arizona State in the First Four.

First Round

The top three seeds should have no trouble advancing to the second round, although Michigan State and Duke have both fallen in the first round as 2-seeds in recent memory, most recently Michigan State to Middle Tennessee in 2016. Penn isn’t a usual 16-seed either, as the Ivy League has historically given trouble to top teams.

However, the fun starts at 4 and 5 with Auburn and Clemson. Auburn is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003, but it will have to do so without forward Anfernee McLemore. They face No. 13 Charleston, who erased a 17-point deficit in their conference championship game to reach the dance. Clemson, on the other hand, runs up against No. 12 New Mexico State in San Diego, where the crowd will be heavily in support of the Aggies. Keep in mind, at least one 12-seed has upset a 5-seed in each of the last seven tournaments. That being said, I still like both top seeds advancing here.

No. 6 TCU will play the winner of Arizona State and Syracuse, and give credit to Jamie Dixon for how he has turned a school without much basketball history into a Big 12 contender. However, whether it be Tra Holder or Tyus Battle running the point against the Horned Frogs, their quickness on the outside will prove too much to overcome.

The most intriguing first-round matchup is No. 7 Rhode Island vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, as Trae Young is one of the flashiest players in the country, leading the nation in both points and assists per game. But Dan Hurley’s bunch will prove too much for a struggling Sooners team and the Rams will advance to the weekend.

I like No. 9 NC State to advance as well, as No. 8 Seton Hall has fallen on hard times recently.

Second Round

Kansas should have no trouble with NC State, and Clemson can exploit its size advantage inside over Auburn to set up our first regional semifinal. Michigan State’s veteran leadership should be enough to propel the Spartans into the second weekend as well since nobody from TCU, Syracuse or Arizona State is as efficient offensively as the Spartans.

The best potential for an upset is Rhode Island over Duke. The Blue Devils lost as a 2-seed in the second round last year, and the Rams were one possession away from making the Sweet 16. Rhode Island’s Jared Terrell averages 17.2 points per game and could present a problem for Duke, but Wooden Award Finalist Marvin Bagley III will prove too much for the Rams inside.

Regional Semis

Basketball fans everywhere will salivate over a Michigan State-Duke matchup, as two of the all-time great programs and coaches will square off. Both schools are looking to go back to the Final Four for the first time since 2015 when Duke dispatched Michigan State in the national semifinals en route to Coach K’s fifth national championship. Duke also took down Michigan State in the Sweet 16 in 2013.

The matchup to watch will be inside, as Bagley III and Wendell Carter will have their hands full with Miles Bridges and Nick Ward for the Spartans. However, this game will be won on the outside, and I give the edge to Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson and Josh Langford over Grayson Allen and Gary Trent Jr. by a hair.

On the other side, Kansas will continue its roll, as Devonte Graham will have a field day against Clemson’s suspect perimeter defense. The season-ending injury to Clemson forward Donte Grantham inside really hurts the Tigers, which can be further exploited if Kansas center Udoka Azubuike is back at full strength.

Regional Final

Michigan State and Kansas will clash again for a trip to the Final Four in San Antonio. The Jayhawks and Spartans met in the second round last year, and Kansas comfortably won that game. But this Spartans team is a year more experienced than they were a season ago.

Kansas has now fallen in the Elite 8 as a No. 1-seed in back-to-back years and the Jayhawks will do everything in their power to reverse that trend. However, Miles Bridges decided to come back to Michigan State for exactly this type of moment, and the sophomore standout will be the difference in the game.

Tom Izzo’s team will ride its two likely lottery picks to the Final Four, where they will have as good a chance as any team they meet there to cut down the nets.

]]>2018-03-14T21:08:48+00:00South Regional Previewhttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/south-regional-preview
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/south-regional-preview
The south region in this NCAA tournament is home to the No. 1 overall seed, two true blue-bloods, and a plethora of wild cards.

The Virginia Cavaliers have the top seed overall. While they only average 67.5 points per game, they stifle opponents and like to make them work defensively for 30 seconds. This Virginia team is different from many in years past as in addition to their defensive prowess, they actually have offensive weapons for a change. Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome are a dynamite backcourt duo who make open shots and are fully capable of producing good looks for themselves. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, they will have to play this tournament without guard De’Andre Hunter, who won the ACC’s Sixth Man of the Year award. They take on 16-seed UMBC in the first round and should waltz to the sweet sixteen.

The second seed in the region belongs to the Cincinnati Bearcats. Cincinnati won the AAC regular season crown as well as the conference tournament, and only suffered four losses. Of those losses, one came to a one seed, one to a four, and the other two to six seeds. Cincinnati holds teams under 60 points a game and has a significantly better offensive arsenal than they usually have. Jacob Evans is one of the most complete players in the tournament, and Sacred Heart transfer Cane Broome can provide a big offensive boost off the bench. This year’s team has been years in the making. Mick Cronin has been waiting for this March for a long time. The Bearcats will have an interesting first-round matchup against Georgia State, who come to the tournament for the first time since upsetting Baylor in 2015. Much like that team had in R.J. Hunter, they have a star in D’Marcus Simonds who could cause the higher seeded Bearcats some headaches.

The third-seeded Tennessee Volunteers are a team full of competitive players who have somehow flown under the radar. The Volunteers may have the third best player in the region in Admiral Schofield, a mountain of a man who won Player of the Year honors in the SEC. The offense doesn’t always show up, and for a ball club that prides itself on the defensive end, their 66.4 points allowed per game is laughable by comparison to the two teams seeded above them. They probably won’t lose to a decent Wright State team, but they should be on upset alert for the first weekend.

The reason Admiral Schofield might be the third best player in this region is that the fourth-seeded Arizona Wildcats have the top two spots locked down. Deandre Ayton should be the first pick in the draft, and Allonzo Trier should go in the first round if he decides he doesn’t want to return for his senior season. Both average around 20 a game and have a talented supporting cast. However, with all the controversy surrounding the program, Trier coming off suspension, and Ayton dreaming of the fortune that will soon befall him, don’t be surprised to see the Wildcats bow out early at the hands of Buffalo. Buffalo comes in with four players averaging between 14.6 and 16.9 points per game. They have been upset favorites the last few times they’ve made the tournament and will be anxious to finally pull one off.

The Kentucky Wildcats come into this region with the No. 5 seed and should feel really good about their chances of getting out. They are peaking now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks like a lottery pick all of a sudden, Kevin Knox has been a stud all year, and Wenyen Gabriel is coming off a 7-7 performance from beyond the arc in the SEC Tournament semifinal game. They will play a Davidson team who just beat tournament teams in St. Bonaventure and URI to win the A-10 tournament, but the Wildcats should win this game, and win the region by my estimate.

The Miami Hurricanes come in with the No. 6 seed, and without the man who was their best player all year. While there are certainly other capable players on the roster, Bruce Brown Jr. was easily Miami’s best player and an important calming influence. They struggled without him in the ACC tournament and will continue to struggle. They have the unfortunate task of facing a 28-5 Loyola-Chicago team who come in with four players averaging in double-figures and are overall red-hot. This Loyola team is a legitimate threat to win a couple games in this tournament, and Miami fans should be very worried.

The 7/10 matchup will be of particular interest as it pits one of the best teams in the nation that nobody knows anything about, against the NBA Draft’s most intriguing prospect in Mo Bamba. Bamba wasn’t healthy in the BIG 12 tournament, but if he is now, it may not matter. Seventh-seeded Nevada has the Martin twins and another 6’7” forward in Jordan Caroline who all combine for 50.6 points per game, 20.4 rebounds, and 9.3 assists. Though they have lost some players to injury and aren’t incredibly deep, expect them to run riot over a Texas team that many will mindlessly pick to beat them.

The 8/9 game could be a tightly contested game if Kansas State has star players Dean Wade and Barry Brown healthy. The Wildcats will need all the help they can get against this deep Creighton team, led by Marcus Foster. Foster is one of the more dynamic guards in the country and burst onto the national scene as at Kansas State. He was dismissed from the program by current head coach Bruce Weber, and he’d be lying if he said this wasn’t motivating him for this game. In the end, the Creighton Blue Jays will have an angry Marcus Foster and depth. Both of which Kansas State cannot match.

No. 1 Villanova over No. 16 Radford
This game is not going to be close at all. The No. 2 team in the whole tournament is led by potential player of the year in Jalen Brunson and is loaded with talent. A No. 16 seed has ever beaten a one seed and it’s not going to start with Nova this year.

No. 8 Virginia Tech over No. 9 Alabama
The star of this matchup is without a doubt Collin Sexton for the Tide. Sexton is one of the best players in the country, but it won’t be enough to be the more complete Hokies. Virginia Tech beat Virginia, Duke, and North Carolina this season.

No. 5 West Virginia over No. 12 Murray State
No. 12 over No. 5 tends to be the most common upset, but it won’t happen in the East bracket. WVU’s defense will be more than enough to contain a good Murray State offense and push the Mountaineers to the second round.

No. 4 Wichita State over No. 13 Marshall
Gregg Marshall and the Shockers are coming into this tournament underrated and history has shown that Wichita State is always a force in March. Landry Shamet for the Shockers will look to have a big day in an easy win over Marshall.

No. 6 Florida over No. 11 UCLA/St. Bonaventure
I see the Gators as one of the dark horse teams in this tournament as they have the talent capable of a deep run. Expect a close game between Florida and the winner of the First Four game.

No. 3 Texas Tech over No. 14 SF Austin
SF Austin has been a Cinderella team before, but Texas Tech will handle its business in a potential upset game. Keenan Evans for the Red Raiders is an underrated star and a player to watch.

No. 10 Butler over No. 7 Arkansas
The Bulldogs are always a team to pick to win in March. They have been a Cinderella team before and I see them beating an overrated Arkansas team.

No. 2 Purdue over No. 15 Cal State Fullerton
The Boilermakers have been up-and-down in the past couple weeks but have the talent to be a Final Four team. This should be an easy win for Purdue.

Second Round

No. 1 Villanova over No. 8 Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech plays well in big games and I believe they hang with Nova till the end. Villanova has too much talent to lose this game, but this could be a bracket buster.

No. 5 West Virginia over No. 4 Wichita State
This game has the potential to be close and competitive, but I think West Virginia has a more complete game to pull off the minor upset over the Shockers.

No. 6 Florida over No. 3 Texas Tech
As I said before, Florida is a really good team and I think they were seeded too low. They have wins over Gonzaga, Cincinnati, and Kentucky this season. The Gators sneak by a tough Texas Tech defense.

No. 2 Purdue over No. 10 Butler
I was tempted to pick Butler here, but Carsen Edwards and Isaac Haas will be too much for the Bulldogs to handle. Purdue will have extra rest coming off the Big Ten tournament and that could play a factor in this game.

Sweet 16

No. 1 Villanova over No. 5 West Virginia
Nova will beat one of the best defenses in the country thanks to my pick for player of the year in Jalen Brunson. Brunson averages close to 20 points and five assists per game and he will shine on the big spotlight.

No. 2 Purdue over No. 6 Florida
The Gators’ run ends at the hands of the better and more complete team in Purdue. Florida’s lack of size will hurt them in this game as they won’t be able to handle Haas and Vincent Edwards down low.

Elite Eight

No. 1 Villanova over No. 2 Purdue
I think the East is the only region where the Elite Eight is a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. Villanova and Purdue are the two best teams in this region and will play a classic in the Regional Final. But, the Wildcats have experience in these big games and will make their second Final Four in three years.

]]>2018-03-14T18:11:12+00:00A Look Back at Paul Posluszny’s Careerhttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/a-look-back-at-paul-poslusznys-career
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/a-look-back-at-paul-poslusznys-career
Penn State alum Paul Posluszny announced his retirement from football on Tuesday after an 11-year career with the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Posluszny was a second-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft after a storied career at Penn State from 2003-2006.

Let’s take a look back at Posluszny’s football career.

Penn State University: 2003-2006

Posluszny was recruited by Coach Joe Paterno and made an immediate impact as a freshman wearing number 39 and the Penn State faithful knew from the start that he would be a special player. Posluszny made his debut for the Blue and White in a 20-14 loss to Minnesota. In a 52-7 drubbing of Indiana, Posluszny jumped a simple route and returned the pass 15 yards for a touchdown. He totaled 36 tackles in the 2003 campaign. The Western Pennsylvania native was later named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.

In 2004, he switched to number 31 the great Shane Conlan wore during his at Penn State in the mid 1980’s. Posluszny’s presence on the field could be felt far and wide as the 2004 defense held teams to under 300 yards per game while surrendering an average of just over 15 points per game. That 2004 defense was in the top 5 for almost every single statistical category from game one to the end of the season. An All-Big Ten selection and Academic All-Big Ten selection, Posluszny led the team in tackles in the final year of the dark ages with 104 in the 11-game season.

During the 2005 season, Posluszny became the first junior captain at Penn State since Mike Reid and Steve Smear in 1968. Posluszny was out to prove that Penn State was a force to be taken seriously and that other teams will have to bring their best. He tallied 116 tackles and won the Butkus Award for the best linebacker and the Bednarik Award for the best defensive player. He joined LaVar Arrington as the only Nittany Lion to win both awards. No. 31 was also named as a member of the 2005 All-America Team. Posluszny led the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten Championship and a berth in the Orange Bowl. However, his game was cut short in the fourth quarter in South Florida after Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker chop blocked Posluszny’s leg causing two ligaments to tear. A potential first-round pick, he then decided to return for his senior season in 2006.

The 2006 season was a step back record-wise for the Nittany Lions but Posluszny’s desire to get better was still ever so present. He played with a heavy-duty brace on his leg but it was if the injury never happened. He had 116 tackles for the second consecutive season and broke Greg Buttle’s school record for tackles in a 12-0 over Purdue on November 4th, 2006. He led the Nittany Lions to a 9-4 season and convincing 20-10 over Tennessee in the Outback Bowl. Posluszny joined former Northwestern linebacker and current Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald as only the second person to win the award twice. He was named to the 2006 All-America Team and the first linebacker in a long line of legends at Linebacker U to be a two-time AP-All American. Paul Posluszny graduated Penn State with a 3.57 GPA and was named 2006 Academic All-American of the Year. He was also named a finalist for the Draddy Trophy, which is given to the nation’s top student-athlete.

Buffalo Bills: 2007-2010

Posluszny was drafted in the second round with the 34th pick overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2007 NFL draft. The Nittany Lion legend signed a four-year 4.75-million-dollar deal in the summer of 2007 with a guarantee of 2.55 million. He was named the starting middle linebacker during his rookie season. However, his rookie season was cut short by a broken forearm. He returned in the 2008 season and racked up his first career interception off of Brett Favre and was later named the Bills defensive MVP. During the 2009 season, Posluszny broke his forearm again but only missed four games. In that same season, he intercepted Tom Brady and later finished with 111 total tackles. In his final season with the Bills, he had 151 combined tackles and made a move to inside linebacker. Posluszny then became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2010 season and his time in Buffalo came to a close. In his time in Orchard Park, Posluszny totaled 398 combined tackles, 295 total tackles, 103 assisted tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 2011-2018

On July 29th, 2011, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Posluszny to a six-year 45-million-dollar contract that included a guaranteed 13 million dollars and a signing bonus of 10 million dollars. Most of Posluszny’s success at the professional level while wearing the Jaguar teal and black. He was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2013 and finished that 2013 season with 122 solo tackles in 15 games with 15 starts. His 2014 season was cut short by a torn pectoral muscle and missed the final nine games. In his later years in Jacksonville, specifically the final two years, Posluszny received an overall grade of 88.4 from Pro Football Focus and it ranked fourth among all linebackers during the 2016 season. In Posluszny’s final season, it was the first time that he was part of a team that had a winning record, won a division title, and made the playoffs. He was held without a tackle in their 10-3 win over the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round but he was able to get his first playoff win. Posluszny then closed out his time with the Jaguars with 984 tackles, which is good for second in franchise history behind Daryl Smith.

In his 11-year career, Paul Posluszny played in 145 games with 1,214 combined tackles, 882 total tackles, 332 assisted tackles, 16 sacks, 15 interceptions, and one touchdown.

Paul Posluszny gave football fans in Western Pennsylvania, Happy Valley, Buffalo, and Jacksonville plenty of thrills in his time on the gridiron. His toughness, grit, determination, and passion for the game were unrivaled. The cut on the bridge of his nose and wide-eyed appearance struck fear in the eyes of opposing offenses for years. His presence on Sundays will be greatly missed by football fans all over the country.

After being left out of the NCAA Tournament field of 68, the Penn State Nittany Lion Men’s Basketball team takes on the Temple Owls at the Bryce-Jordan Center in the first round of the NIT.

After losing a couple of games down the stretch that could have put the Nittany Lions in serious tournament contention, Pat Chambers is going to have an interesting task in getting his team up to play in the consolation tournament.

The Nittany Lions finished the season with a record of 21-13, three Quadrant 1 wins, and one of the top teams in Joe Lunardi’s “Next Four Out” section of the bubble. The Nittany Lions defeated NCAA Tournament No. 5 seed Ohio State, but those were their only Quadrant 1 wins. To make matters worse, they virtually canceled those wins out with three losses against teams in the bottom two quadrants. Had the Nittany Lions managed to finish one of the close Purdue games with a win, or beat Michigan, or even Nebraska, they may have finished in a very different spot. The home loss to Rider surely did not help either.

If the Nittany Lions were to wind up with an opponent that could create an intriguing NIT clash, it would be the Temple Owls. The Owls come into the NIT with a 17-15 record, after finishing No. 7 in the American Athletic Conference.

Temple University is located in Philadelphia, a Penn State pipeline city. The Nittany Lions roster has a host of players from the area, most notably Tony Carr, Lamar Stevens, Mike Watkins, and Shep Garner, all in the normal starting lineup.

Beyond the connections, the Penn State roster has to Temple’s city, a large portion of the student body hail from there as well. Penn State’s Philly students likely have a friend or two who attend Temple which could make this game personal for a lot of people.

On the court, the most entertaining individual matchup will likely be Temple Forward Obi Enechionyia against Lamar Stevens. Enechionyia stands a bit taller than Lamar Stevens, but the two are very similar players. Both have a good mid-range game, with a good deal of versatility. Both have great physical strength but expect Lamar Stevens to try to bring Enechionyia outside to guard him. Stevens has a bit of an athletic advantage and is all around a better player than Enechionyia, so expect him to come out and try to dominate this matchup. The winner of this individual matchup plays a big hand in deciding the outcome of the game.

Another interesting matchup to keep an eye on is the potential matchup between Tony Carr and Shizz Alston Jr. The two will likely wind up on each other defensively and may be familiar with each other as both come from Philadelphia and are only a year apart. Alston is a quick guard with some good athletic ability, similar to Tony Carr, though Carr tends to be more methodical in his approach. If Alston can hold his own against Carr it will be a big boost to Temple’s chances of coming out of Happy Valley victorious.

There are no obvious mismatches either way, but this wouldn’t be true if Mike Watkins were on the floor. He would be able to dominate center Ernest Aflakpui, but isn’t available to do so. While a tough break for the Nittany Lions, it should make for a tighter game.

]]>2018-03-14T17:58:36+00:002018 NFL Mock Drafthttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/2018-nfl-mock-draft
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/2018-nfl-mock-draft1. Cleveland Browns: Saquon Barkley (RB, Penn State)
A couple weeks ago, I would have said with 100 percent certainty that this would be a quarterback. However, after acquiring Tyrod Taylor in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, the Browns will look to take the best player in the draft. Taylor will not be the future franchise signal caller, but he is enough of an insurance policy to make them feel comfortable taking a generational talent in Barkley with the first pick.

2. New York Giant: Sam Darnold (QB, USC)
If Barkley goes number one, the Giants will have plenty of options here, including trading out of the pick. However, they will instead take the best quarterback in the draft. Darnold will take a year or two to sit behind Eli Manning and be the next franchise quarterback in New York, similar to what Aaron Rodgers did with Brett Favre in Green Bay many years ago.

3. Cleveland Browns (PROJECTED TRADE WITH COLTS): Josh Allen (QB, Wyoming)
There will many teams looking to trade up for this pick. It isn’t implausible to believe that the Browns give up more than they should in order to make sure they move up one spot to take, hopefully, their franchise quarterback.

4. Indianapolis Colts (PROJECTED TRADE WITH BROWNS): Bradley Chubb (DE, N.C. State)
The Colts would have loved to get Barkley, but getting additional draft picks in a trade, only moving down one spot, and STILL getting the best pass rusher in the draft, which is arguably their biggest need would be a great scenario for them.

5. Denver Broncos: Minkah Fitzpatrick (DB, Alabama)
Before news broke that Case Keenum was signing with Denver, I would have said that this was a lock for them to take Josh Rosen. However, assuming they get their quarterback, it makes tons of sense here to instead get possibly the best defensive player in the draft, especially after shipping Pro-Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib to the Los Angeles Rams.

6. New York Jets: Josh Rosen (QB, UCLA)
The Jets get their franchise quarterback after her falls right into their laps. Rosen is the best pure pocket passer in the class and has an unbelievable football I.Q. for a young quarterback. He will fit right in with the Jets.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tremaine Edmunds (LB, Virginia Tech)
The Buccaneers will need to address their running back situation later in the draft, but for now, they take the best player available. Edmunds will contribute immediately. Look for a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson (OG, Notre Dame)
Between Mitchell Trubisky, Jordan Howard, and new wide receiver Allen Robinson the Bears are all in on offense. They take the best lineman in the draft to ensure that Trubisky and Howard can flourish.

9. Buffalo Bills (PROJECTED TRADE WITH 49ERS): Baker Mayfield (QB, Oklahoma)
Last week the Bills traded away LT Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati for the 12th overall pick. Here, I have them trading that same pick to the 49ers to take their franchise quarterback. The 49ers have lots of needs to fill, but none more pressing than the other, so look for John Lynch to trade this pick away. I believe Mayfield will play his rookie season but will sit the first couple weeks behind Nathan Peterman.

10. Oakland Raiders: Denzel Ward (DB, Ohio State)
The Raiders just cut ties with David Amerson and Sean Smith. They will answer here by taking one of the top defensive backs. Ward paired with last year's first-round cornerback Gareon Conley, two former Buckeyes who will once again be playing beside each other in the black hole.

11. Miami Dolphins: Vita Vea, (DT, Washington)
The Dolphins very well could trade up or take a quarterback here. However, the Dolphins will more than likely be releasing Ndamukong Suh as soon as the new league year starts. It won’t take long for them to find their replacement. Vea is the best defensive tackle in the draft and will get his chance to be a key player right away. Ryan Tannehill gets one more year to prove he can be the franchise quarterback in Miami.

12. San Francisco 49ers (PROJECTED TRADE WITH BILLS): Derwin James (S, Florida State)
The 49ers just signed All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman. Pair that with Eric Reid and now James? The 49ers could very well become the Legion of Boom 2.0

13. Washington Redskins: Roquan Smith (LB, Georgia)
Like many teams, the Redskins have many needs. First, they need to address the fact that they had the worst rushing defense in all of football last year. Drafting Smith here makes complete sense, as he will give them a defensive leader both on and off the field for years to come and a guy who might be the best defender against the run in the draft.

14. Green Bay Packers: Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama)
The Packers missed out on the Allen Robinson sweepstakes, but it will all be okay. They take the best wide receiver in the draft, and between Ridley, Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams, this passing offense will be one of the best in football. Look out for Ridley being an early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

15. Arizona Cardinals: Lamar Jackson (QB, Louisville)
The Cardinals are in rebuild mode after losing their head coach and Carson Palmer. They solve this issue in the first-round by taking their franchise QUARTERBACK. Jackson remains a Cardinal in a different city and will have the opportunity to ignite an exciting offense alongside David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. Even though the Cardinals just signed Sam Bradford in free agency, he is probably not a longterm option, and Jackson could spend a year on the sideline to develop before being ready to go.

16. Baltimore Ravens: Orlando Brown (OT, Oklahoma)
The Ravens could easily go wide receiver here, but instead, I think they take Brown to keep adding to an already solid rushing attack. It helps that his dad played for them as well.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Marcus Davenport (LD/DE, UTSA)
The Chargers have a lot of options here. However, just imagine if they take Davenport and put him on the opposite end of Joey Bosa. In a couple of years that pairing could create one of the deadliest pass rushes in the league.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Derrius Guice (RB, LSU)
The Seahawks have moved on from many pieces to their once all-time great defense this offseason, so they very well could look to rebuild starting here. They also will be looking to sign a free agent running back, like Demarco Murray. Assuming they don’t sign Murray, they will take Guice here to give Russell Wilson a dynamic runner alongside him in the backfield.

19. Dallas Cowboys: Mike Hughes (CB, UCF)
The Cowboys get a steal and take the best player available. Hughes is an explosive playmaker in the secondary who can also make a sizeable impact on special teams as well.

20. Detroit Lions: Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
The Lions haven’t been able to find a replacement for Suh since he left a couple seasons ago. They will finally solve that problem without having to look very far.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Sam Hubbard (DE, Ohio State)
Both of the Bengals pass rushers in Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap are set to hit free agency. Assuming they can’t re-sign both, they will look to fill that need here. Hubbard is a great scheme fit and one of the best pass rushers in the draft.

22. Buffalo Bills: Christian Kirk (WR, Texas A&M)
Assuming they get their quarterback earlier in the draft, they need to be thinking about adding more weapons on the perimeter. They very well could take an offensive tackle here, but they instead take a speedy wideout to complement Kelvin Benjamin.

23. Los Angeles Rams: Rashaan Evans (LB, Alabama)
The Rams have made plenty of moves this offseason, including shipping their middle linebacker to the Giants. They get their replacement here.

24. Carolina Panthers: Courtland Sutton (WR, SMU)
The Panthers can either choose to add another weapon for Cam Newton or go best defensive player available. They should go Sutton to give Newton a big, physical wide receiver who will be an excellent downfield target.

25. Tennessee Titans: Billy Price (C/OG, Ohio State)
Despite tearing his pectoral at the combine, Price is still one of the most talented lineman in the entire draft. He is versatile enough to play both guard and center, meaning he is a great fit to help block for Marcus Mariota and Derrick Henry for years to come.

26. Atlanta Falcons: Isiah Wynn (OG, Georgia)
The Falcons are best when their run game is as strong as their passing attack. Wynn will help to sure up their offensive line, and it doesn’t hurt that he played his college football only an hour away.

27. New Orleans Saints: Mike McGlinchey (OT, Notre Dame)
Mike Gesicki could be an option here, but the Saints are the front-runner to bring back Jimmy Graham from Seattle. Assuming they can bring him back, they will instead take an offensive tackle to replace the retired Zach Streif.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise State)
The Steelers could shock the world and take Mason Rudolph here, but instead, they will draft one of the best linebackers in the draft in order to fill the void left by Ryan Shazier’s devastating injury.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Gesicki (TE, Penn State)
The Jaguars have a defense that is ready win them a championship right now. They already have a franchise running back, meaning they will go either quarterback, wide receiver or tight end. For now, Blake Bortles is still their quarterback, so they will draft the 6’6 tight end from Penn State to give him a massive red zone target. If not Gesicki, look for the speedster from LSU DJ Chark.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Da’Ron Payne (DT, Alabama)
The Vikings will most likely just end up trading out of this pick, or taking best player available. Payne gives them an extra dimension to their already dangerous defensive line.

]]>2018-03-13T19:31:27+00:00Potential Landing Spots For Navorro Bowmanhttp://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/potential-landing-spots-for-navorro-bowman
http://commedia.psu.edu/sports/story/potential-landing-spots-for-navorro-bowman
With the start of free-agency just a couple of days away, the entire landscape of the NFL is about to change. Within these changes, plenty of veteran players are sure to find themselves in unfamiliar uniforms next season.
One such player, is former Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman. Bowman, who spent the majority of his all-pro career with the 49ers, was traded last season to the Oakland Raiders where he finished the season with 58 tackles in just 11 games. Despite being one of the top available linebackers, Bowman may have fewer offers than others due to his age. However, lets look at like the top 5 locations the former Nittany Lion could find himself come the start of the 2018 season.

1. Washington Redskins

Last season, the Redskins ranked dead last in total run defense with just over 134 yards allowed per game. While they will most likely look to solve this issue through the draft, Bowman would instantly add some much need physicality up front. Bringing him in to pair with Ryan Kerrigan and a young rookie would be a smart decision if the team wants to compete for a division title and more.

2. Buffalo Bills

Despite making the playoffs for the first time since 1999 last season, the Buffalo Bills seem to lack an identity overall. While their secondary performed well, there front seven was a different story. Veteran defensive tackle Kyle Williams anchored the defensive line once again, however it wasn’t enough to keep them from being the fourth worst run defense. The trade of Marcell Dareus may have had something to do with that, but it goes without saying that they will have to improve this season if they have hopes of getting back to the post season. Like the Redskins, they will have to use the draft to fill some of these holds, but there is no doubt that adding a proven player like Bowman could be the first step in getting to where they want to be.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

On paper, the Bengals should have been far better at stopping the run than they were last season. With talented young players such as Michael Johnson, Vincent Rey and Vontaze Bufict, the Bengals seem to be close to having a fierce front seven like the ones in recent years. However, what the Bengal really need is leadership. Adding a respected locker room leader like Bowman makes a lot of sense for both sides.

4. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are in desperate need of a playmaker on defense. With nobody on their roster looking like they are going to take over the leadership role, adding a veteran like Bowman would be a step in the right direction.

5. Oakland Raiders

After being traded by the 49ers in week four last year, Bowman came into Oakland and started producing right away. He visibly took the Raiders defensive front from average to one of the best in the league. Bowman has already publicly stated that he would like to stay in the bay area, so I wouldn’t rule out him re-signing just yet.

It’s finally Selection Sunday. Later today, the selection committee will officially release its list of the 68 teams who will be playing for a national title. Many teams have already locked up spots from winning their conference tournaments, while others are locks thanks to their tournament resumes. However, there a still a select few teams that will be sweating it out on Sunday evening as the bracket is revealed. In 2018’s final edition of the Bubble Watch, we have four more locks (Virginia Tech, Providence, Missouri and Rhode Island) and seven eliminations (Utah, Oregon, Washington, Mississippi State, LSU, Boise State and Western Kentucky). Let’s take one last look at the bubble before the committee rolls out the field of 68:

Although Virginia Tech hasn’t played since Wednesday’s loss to Notre Dame, the Hokies become a lock by virtue that their resume, which features wins over Duke and Virginia, is just too good for the committee to pass up, especially compared to other bubble teams. Florida State and NC State remain in the “safe for now” category, and they should be selected to the field, but it’s not quite a guarantee. Louisville, Syracuse and Notre Dame all remain on the bubble, as none of them failed to get past the conference quarterfinals. With San Diego State stealing an at-large bid thanks to a Mountain West conference tournament victory and Davidson able to steal a bid against Rhode Island tomorrow, all three will be on the edge of their seats this evening.

Providence locks up a spot after their overtime victory over Xavier and their overtime loss to Villanova. Butler is not quite there, as the Bulldogs were trounced by Villanova on Friday. They’re very likely to grab an at-large bid, but much like Florida State and NC State, it’s not quite a guarantee. Marquette is the one true bubble team of the Big East, who couldn’t handle the Wildcats either. The NIT is looking like the most likely path for the Golden Eagles, but the committee has made some crazy selections before. There’s still hope for Marquette.

Penn State and Nebraska remain on the bubble, but their at-large hopes are dwindling fast, especially with the presence of bid thieves. Many tournament projections don’t have either team within the first eight teams out, so unless the selection committee decides to make an oddball move, it’s unlikely that the Nittany Lions or Cornhuskers will receive invitations to the big dance.

Oklahoma still seems to worry many with their disastrous season-ending slide, but their work at the beginning of the year still stands firm. If the committee continues to value the metrics that they have in the past, the Sooners should remain in the field. Kansas State is also “safe for now,” thanks to a big overtime win over TCU. Even though the Wildcats couldn’t compete with their in-state rivals in the Big 12 semifinals, they should still be feeling confident about their tournament hopes thanks to a rather impressive resume. Texas was feeling much safer a few days ago, but with bid thieves lurking and other bubble teams rising to the occasion, the Longhorns are feeling the heat once again. The same goes for Baylor, who, like Texas, couldn’t make it past the Big 12 quarterfinals. Oklahoma State is right there with those teams, as they failed to beat Kansas for a third time. Like the other Big 12 teams, the Cowboys have some excellent wins, but the point remains that their RPI, #86, would be a new all-time low for an at-large selection. That doesn’t bode well for Oklahoma State.

Utah, Oregon and Washington all failed to put together any sort of spectacular Pac-12 Tournament run, so they all fall to the wayside, leaving the conference with one lock and three teams looking for at-large bids. USC is the most likely candidate, who put together a nice run before losing to Arizona in the title game. Just below them is UCLA, who also played well, taking the Wildcats to overtime in a semifinal loss. As has been the case, these teams have similar resumes, and may both make the field. That would put the pressure on Arizona State, who now may be on the outside looking in after starting the year strong. Could this late-season collapse kick the Sun Devils out of the field? We’ll find out on Sunday night.

Missouri is another Virginia Tech: locked up because their resume is too good to exclude. This leaves Alabama as the only SEC bubble team (LSU was eliminated after the loss to Mississippi State, and Mississippi State was eliminated after the loss to Tennessee.) Alabama came up huge twice, defeating Texas A&M on a last-second layup and then knocking off top seed Auburn by double digits, but they couldn’t do it a third time as Kentucky knocked Alabama out of the SEC Tournament once and for all. If they are selected, their 15 losses would tie a record for most by an at-large team. But the strong metrics (especially the SOS) and a nice showing in the conference tournament may save the Crimson Tide.

Win or lose on Sunday, Rhode Island is a tournament lock. St. Bonaventure is not as secure thanks to the loss to Davidson in the Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinals, but their resume seems to be as strong as any. It would be shocking not to hear the Bonnies’ name called during the selection show. Western Kentucky and Boise State failed in their conference tournaments, and New Mexico State secured an auto-bid, alleviating any bubble worries, so we’re left with Saint Mary’s and Middle Tennessee on the bubble. These teams are very similar in that they have gaudy win totals and tournament-like RPIs, but the rest is lacking. Saint Mary’s SOS could be killer, while Middle Tennessee’s best wins are against Western Kentucky and Murray State. Both teams are regretting failing to win their conference tournaments, and both will be sweating all afternoon.